Improvement in quiiting-frames



F. McKENN A.

QUILTING-FRAMES.

110,180,905. Patented Aug.8, 1876.

WITNESSES a Jag INVENTOR d%.d5f- 5 7 Wm ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIon.

FRANCIS MGKENNA, OF RIOHFIELD, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN QUILTING-FRAMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 180,905., dated August 8, 1876, application filed May 13, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, Fnnnors MGKENNA, of Richfield, in the county of Washington and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Quilting-Frame;

and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of an end view of my quilting-frame, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

This invention has relation to frames for quilting; and-consists in an improved frame, whereby the quilt can be moved when on the frame, by means of rollers having ratchetwheels attachedto their ends, operated by a removable crank, and held in place by dogs or pawls, which, in turn, are held in place by a spring, as will be hereinafter explained.

In the annexed drawings, A designates the table of my improved quilting-frame, which may be constructed of any suitable material, and which is supported upon legs, that may rest upon casters, so as to be easily shifted to any part of the room. This frame may be also easily taken apart by removing the pins in the ends thereof, and packed away, so as to occupy but little space.

B B designate the rollers, which are applied at sides of the frame at its upper part, and to which slips areaffixed, having attached to them the quilt. These rollers pass through the ends of the. frame, and have their bearings therein. On one end of each roller B a ratchet-wheel, b, is keyed, which is removable. The edges of the quilt are sewed to strips which are tacked to the rollers, so that in winding the quilt upon one roller, it will be unwound from the other roller. This is done by means of a crank-handle, G, which can be applied to either of the two rollers at will.

D D designate two dogs or pawls, which are pivoted on the same end of the frame through which the rollers pass and carry the ratchet-wheels. These dogs or pawls D D are adapted to engage with the teeth of wheels I), and are held down in place by means of a spring, E, the ends of which are rigidly secured to the dogs or pawls D, at 00, and operate upon each one with equal force, to-hold them in place during the operation of quilting.

Attached to the free ends of (logs or pawls D is a cord, 01, by means of which they may be easily disengaged from the cogs on the ratchet-wheel, when it is desired to turn the rollers and move any part of the quilt to some other convenient position.

The table upon which the frame is constructed is strengthened by means of a keyed center-bar, 6, running from end to end, and secured in cross-bars F, which are attached to the legs. This bar can also be removed at pleasure, in the same manner as other portions of the frame or table.

Facilities are afforded for properly oiling the machinery by means of openings in the top of the end bars, through which the journals of the rollers pass.

The machinery of the frame is so arranged that when the figures of the quilt have been finished across its length, the person nearest the rotating apparatus can move the quilt without arising from her seat, and as many persons as can conveniently sit around the frame are enabled to work at the same time.

When the work is finished the frame can be taken apart and stowed away in some convenient place.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a quilting-frame, the several parts of which are detachable, as described, rollers B B, carrying ratchet-wheels b, and a removable crank-arm, G, in combination with a holdingdown spring, E, and the two pawls D D, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS MGKENNA. Witnesses:

O. A. MITCHELL, J OHN MITCHELL. 

